Best Fall Cocktail Recipes from Across the USA

Travel Mamas sometimes receives compensation and/or hosted travel and sample products related to blog posts. This story may include affiliate links for which we receive a small commission at no extra cost to consumers.

All over the United States, as summer slips into her fall sweaters and wraps up against the coming chill, bartenders create tasty libations to warm us from the inside. Join us on a tour of the country’s best fall cocktail recipes.

Autumn’s Ambrosia

Crimson & Rye in New York, New York

“Autumn is fall and ambrosia translates to Nectar… the elixir of life, the drink of the gods and immortality!” says bartender Mason Salicetti of New York City’s Crimson & Rye. His enthusiasm is catching.

Add all the ingredients into the shaker except for the Apple Cider and Bitters. Fill the shaker with as much ice as you can and shake vigorously. Strain into a tall glass filled with ice (leave enough room for cider), top with Apple Cider and the 2 dashes of Whiskey Barrel-Aged Bitters and finally top it with a cinnamon stick and three black peppercorns.

Cider Sangria from One Lincoln at the Gettysburg Hotel (Photo credit: Destination Gettysburg)

Cider Sangria

One Lincoln Gettysburg Hotel in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania

Adams County, Pennsylvania – which surrounds historic Gettysburg – is one of the largest apple growing regions in the U.S. There, hard cider is the drink of choice. At One Lincoln, the bar inside the iconic Gettysburg Hotel, they use a local hard cider as a base for their Cider Sangria.

Fall in the 305

LILT Lounge at Kimpton’s EPIC Hotel in Miami, Florida

“Fall is one of my favorite seasons,” says Spencer Taliaferro, Lead Bartender at LILT Lounge at Kimpton’s EPIC Hotel in Downtown Miami, Florida. “Being from the suburbs of New Jersey and living in South Florida, I miss the fall: the changing leaves, the spices, pumpkins, the aromas and the overall feel of fall. I wanted to pay tribute to the season that I love by creating Fall in the 305, a fall-inspired cocktail, and still maintaining the spirit of Miami and South Florida.”

Leone Sour

L’Oca d’Oro in Austin, Texas

Of course Austin is going to do things a little differently. L’Oca d’Oro, a contemporary Italian restaurant, offers the unique Leone Sour cocktail. It’s named after Sergio Leone, a famous Spaghetti Western director.

Gingerbread Spice Margarita

Dell Cove Spice Co. in Chicago, Illinois

The Dell Cove Spice Company in Chicago provides an autumn cocktail recipe that mixes the flavors of a summer classic cocktail, but with a twist: the spice of gingerbread with the sweetness of Midwestern apples. Parents can enjoy a Gingerbread Spice Margarita after apple picking with the kids.

Rim your chilled glasses with the gingerbread-flavored cocktail sugar. Fill glasses with ice and set aside. Combine tequila, apple cider, lime juice, agave nectar, cinnamon and one tablespoon of the gingerbread sugar to a cocktail shaker full of ice. Cover shaker and shake vigorously until shaker is chilled. Strain into glasses. Add a star of anise for garnish and serve.

Maple Trea

Zingerman’s Roadhouse in Ann Arbor, Michigan

Michigan isn’t known for its maple syrup, but it should be! Locals have been tapping their maples for years, and this drink is a fabulous way to utilize the nectar of these trees with leaves ablaze. Bartender Amos Arinda created the Maple Trea using the best, full-flavored ingredients available. Maple syrup from Snow’s Sugarbush in nearby Mason, Michigan is the highlighted flavor. The base liquor is scotch, which provides a smokiness reminiscent of burning leaves. The iced tea at Zingerman’s Roadhouse has a hint of bergamot that provides a floral astringency.

Save these Fall Cocktail Recipes

Be sure to save these autumnal recipes. Just save the image above to Pinterest so when you’re thirsty for a tasty beverage this fall, you can shake things up. You might as well follow Travel Mamas on Pinterest while you’re at it!

You might also like:

About Paige Conner Totaro, The Startup Travel Mama

Paige Conner Totaro likes to help make dreams come true, whether helping people start businesses or helping people plan the trip of a lifetime. She made her own dream come true by taking a trip around the world with her husband and twin daughters in 2012 and is always planning the next adventure in travel or business (or both). Paige was a founder of Misra Records and Unquote Travel, a founding board member of the arts organization, Transformer, in Washington, DC; and a longtime board member and director of Washington Area Lawyers for the Arts. Paige is a fan of Scandinavian design, Ethiopian food, Arab hospitality, Japanese vintage stores, Brazilian music and Thai beaches, but also American craft beer, garage rock and roller derby. Can you see why her travel company is called All Over the Map? Connect with Paige on Instagram at @alloverthemap.

I don’t drink but would love to try these in a virgin version. They flavor combinations sound wonderful. Just the thought of fall weather, sweaters, spices, and nice warm drinks makes me all warm and fuzzy inside!

Hi there! I'm Colleen Lanin, the founder of Travel Mamas. I launched this family travel blog in 2009 to help parents better connect with their kids and the world through travel and beyond. I love being a mom, traveling, swimming in fabulous hotel pools, and doing Pilates so I can eat lots of gluten-free dessert. Click on the pic to learn more about moi!